Players lined up, on trial or on their way out!

We knew that Jon Harley was in training with us today but now The News has made us aware of others players training with the club, so they are technically on trial.

Mustapha Dumbaya is a name that I have heard of before - he was contracted to Doncaster last season but spent some time on loan with Palace. The defender/midfielder is now a free agent having seen his contract expire.

Yep, I have heard the name but have no real idea what he is like to be honest!

A couple of keepers from non-league backgrounds are also being 'looked at' by Appy.

These are Simon Eastwood and Laurie Walker, I know absolutely nothing about either and cannot say I have ever heard of either...

Quite clearly pro-active moves to bring players in are being made and that infamous phrase 'sky sports understands' has been used to suggest that 'Portsmouth are lining up a deal' for Rhys McCabe.

The former Rangers midfielder has not transferred his contract over to 'Rangers newco' so according to them McCabe is in line to sign when the green light is given for players to come in...

Another that seems destined to sign is Izale McLeod.

I said some weeks back that I had been told 'his signing was nailed on' with him ready to come in. The fact that he has spoken about being close to a deal with someone, his preferred option, but having not 100% finalised this yet gives further credence to the fact it must be Pompey as if it was anyone else it would have been done by now, surely?

Our problem remains the same though, until the bigger earners move on we cannot do anything in the transfer market and in all fairness this is the way it should be as the wage bill quite rightly cannot be increased until it has been significantly cut...

There is 'better news' on this front though with Appy telling Radio Solent that he 'would imagine' that Chuck and Luke Varney will 'get themselves sorted' to move on soon.

Others that he 'would doubt very much' to see at the club again are Aaron Mokoena and Kanu.

Both were meant to be at training but neither arrived, as a 'betting man' he thinks both are in Africa, Mokoena in South Africa as his return to his homeland gets closer to being sorted out and Kanu in Nigeria, with further talks moving him towards the exit too ongoing.

Coming in will be Ashley Westwood, he will become Appy's no.2 as everything has been agreed with Lincoln for this to happen, a few things just need finalising with this hoped to be the case by the end of next week.

Comments

Dmbuya has bags full of pace and can play anywhere down the left although he plays more predominantly at left back. He does like to bomb forward, which can sometimes leave his position exposed. I do rate him highly. He just didn't seem to get a chance under Dean Saunders and did well on loan at Palace. He has recently been called up by Sierra Leone so he must be impressing some people.

If Kanu is holding out for his £300k before he moves on then perhaps he should be made to turn up to pre-season with all the other players and train just as they do. If he can't handle the pace then surely he is not fullfilling his contartct to kep himself fit and we could fine him. Perhaps somewhere in the region of £300k, or agree that he leaves and we call it quits on the money front?

I don't recall Kanu doing a pre-season since he joined Pompey! This happens every season... Why don't we fine him if he doesn't turn for training? Let us fine him over and over again so we'll get rid of him, the sooner the better! PuP